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By Patrick McManamon
Beacon Journal sports columnist
POSTED: 07:08 p.m. EDT, May 23, 2009
CLEVELAND: The latest and best version of ''The Shot'' gave the Cavaliers life in the Eastern Conference finals.
But it didn't make things easier.
''Le Shot'' (as ESPN dubbed it) allowed everyone to, again, witness greatness.
But LeBron James' game-winning 3-pointer as the buzzer sounded against the Orlando Magic has not a thing to do with the next game.
It gave Cavs fans a reason to rejoice — and to hope. But it basically also threw the team a lifeline as it heads to Games 3 and 4 in Orlando.
Because had James missed that shot, or had Hedo Turkoglu waited one additional second to make his, the talk today would be of a Magic sweep.
No team wants to fall behind 2-0 in a series when said team heads to the opposing arena. The odds would simply not be with the team that trails, to say the least.
The Magic are even justified being the more confident team heading to Game 3 — though the Cavs always can be confident in the league's Most Valuable Player.
Magic coach Stan Van Gundy was kicking himself late Friday after the game, saying his team lost because of the way he chose to defend James.
He wouldn't reveal what he would have done, because the same situation might arise again, but it's safe to believe he thought he should have double-teamed James.
A two sends the game to overtime; a 3-pointer loses the game.
Doubling James at the 3-point line with Mickael Pietrus and Turkoglu would have forced James to take a more difficult shot — assuming he could have gotten the ball at all.
Had Mo Williams given the ball to anyone else, the result probably would have been a two.
Thoughts like that keep a coach up at night.
But it's hard to coach against greatness, and that's what James displayed Friday (the sixth anniversary of the day the Cavs won the lottery to draft James). He simply made a great play and a near-unbelievable shot with a defensive player in the vicinity.
There was no time to think, move, or react, because had he done anything but rise and shoot, James would not have gotten the shot off in time.
James made three jump shots all night.
He made one 3-pointer, the first game-winning 3-pointer of his career.
And it came at the end of a quarter, when James was properly whistled for charging and traveling.
The unbridled enthusiasm the Cavs showed after the shot drew some retorts from the Magic.
''Seeing them celebrating,'' Turkoglu said. ''It means we are in their heads.''
Isn't that too bad? This unbridled joy was completely in character for this team.
That celebration was spontaneous.
And if the Magic don't like postgame celebrations, don't let James make the shot.
''They're not in our heads at all,'' James said.
Whom do you choose to believe?
The fans enjoyed every minute, providing the most deafening roar this side of the Space Center, a short drive from Orlando.
''The loudest it has ever been in this building,'' James said.
In his postgame interview, James talked about being in the backyard, counting down the time, describing something that anyone who's played basketball at any level understands.
But as exciting as it was, there still remains a series to be won.
And the problems that plagued the Cavs in Games 1 and 2 — like Williams shooting 13-for-40 and looking very hesitant — will not go away because James made a magical shot.
In fact, they might be more difficult to overcome on the road. Too, the Magic will be determined not to let the Cavs get off to another fast start.
When the Magic make their shots, they are extremely difficult to defend.
In Game 1, Dwight Howard scored 30 points, and the Magic won by one.
In Game 2, Howard had 10 points, and the Magic lost by one.
In both games, the Magic shot poorly in the first quarter, but with each succeeding quarter, the shooting percentages between the two teams crept closer and closer.
It's easy to say the momentum from ''Le Shot'' will propel the Cavs. But it's also not realistic.
Both teams have been beaten by a late 3-pointer. Don't expect the Magic to fold in Game 3 any more than the Cavs did in Game 2.
The Magic have taken the homecourt edge, and they keep it until they lose at home.
James' shot gives the Cavs life and hope, and that hope remains strong because they have James.
But the team's playoff slogan does not refer to one shot.
It refers to one goal, and there's a lot to be done to reach said goal.
Patrick McManamon can be reached at pmcmanamon@thebeaconjournal.com. Read his blog at http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/mcmanamon/. Follow Pat on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/patmcmanamon
CLEVELAND: The latest and best version of ''The Shot'' gave the Cavaliers life in the Eastern Conference finals.
But it didn't make things easier.
''Le Shot'' (as ESPN dubbed it) allowed everyone to, again, witness greatness.
But LeBron James' game-winning 3-pointer as the buzzer sounded against the Orlando Magic has not a thing to do with the next game.
It gave Cavs fans a reason to rejoice — and to hope. But it basically also threw the team a lifeline as it heads to Games 3 and 4 in Orlando.
Because had James missed that shot, or had Hedo Turkoglu waited one additional second to make his, the talk today would be of a Magic sweep.
No team wants to fall behind 2-0 in a series when said team heads to the opposing arena. The odds would simply not be with the team that trails, to say the least.
The Magic are even justified being the more confident team heading to Game 3 — though the Cavs always can be confident in the league's Most Valuable Player.
Magic coach Stan Van Gundy was kicking himself late Friday after the game, saying his team lost because of the way he chose to defend James.
He wouldn't reveal what he would have done, because the same situation might arise again, but it's safe to believe he thought he should have double-teamed James.
A two sends the game to overtime; a 3-pointer loses the game.
Doubling James at the 3-point line with Mickael Pietrus and Turkoglu would have forced James to take a more difficult shot — assuming he could have gotten the ball at all.
Had Mo Williams given the ball to anyone else, the result probably would have been a two.
Thoughts like that keep a coach up at night.
But it's hard to coach against greatness, and that's what James displayed Friday (the sixth anniversary of the day the Cavs won the lottery to draft James). He simply made a great play and a near-unbelievable shot with a defensive player in the vicinity.
There was no time to think, move, or react, because had he done anything but rise and shoot, James would not have gotten the shot off in time.
James made three jump shots all night.
He made one 3-pointer, the first game-winning 3-pointer of his career.
And it came at the end of a quarter, when James was properly whistled for charging and traveling.
The unbridled enthusiasm the Cavs showed after the shot drew some retorts from the Magic.
''Seeing them celebrating,'' Turkoglu said. ''It means we are in their heads.''
Isn't that too bad? This unbridled joy was completely in character for this team.
That celebration was spontaneous.
And if the Magic don't like postgame celebrations, don't let James make the shot.
''They're not in our heads at all,'' James said.
Whom do you choose to believe?
The fans enjoyed every minute, providing the most deafening roar this side of the Space Center, a short drive from Orlando.
''The loudest it has ever been in this building,'' James said.
In his postgame interview, James talked about being in the backyard, counting down the time, describing something that anyone who's played basketball at any level understands.
But as exciting as it was, there still remains a series to be won.
And the problems that plagued the Cavs in Games 1 and 2 — like Williams shooting 13-for-40 and looking very hesitant — will not go away because James made a magical shot.
In fact, they might be more difficult to overcome on the road. Too, the Magic will be determined not to let the Cavs get off to another fast start.
When the Magic make their shots, they are extremely difficult to defend.
In Game 1, Dwight Howard scored 30 points, and the Magic won by one.
In Game 2, Howard had 10 points, and the Magic lost by one.
In both games, the Magic shot poorly in the first quarter, but with each succeeding quarter, the shooting percentages between the two teams crept closer and closer.
It's easy to say the momentum from ''Le Shot'' will propel the Cavs. But it's also not realistic.
Both teams have been beaten by a late 3-pointer. Don't expect the Magic to fold in Game 3 any more than the Cavs did in Game 2.
The Magic have taken the homecourt edge, and they keep it until they lose at home.
James' shot gives the Cavs life and hope, and that hope remains strong because they have James.
But the team's playoff slogan does not refer to one shot.
It refers to one goal, and there's a lot to be done to reach said goal.
Patrick McManamon can be reached at pmcmanamon@thebeaconjournal.com. Read his blog at http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/mcmanamon/. Follow Pat on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/patmcmanamon
Comments
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Kent, Oh
Posted 07:41 PM, 05/23/2009
Sure the Magics are definitely in the Cavs heads. If for some reason or another we were overconfident we aren't now. Actually, I think it helped our Cleveland Cavaliers to take these Orlando Magic's seriously. I don't think losing game one will hurt our chances at winning the NBA championship at all. I do think that the eight-game layoff hurt the Cavs in game one and probably even wore them down a little bit more two days later. We should be over that by now and I think the Cavaliers could not be in a better mindset than they are right now. The Cavaliers are the best team in the NBA and they're about to show the world.
Akron, OH
Posted 09:47 PM, 05/23/2009
Recalling Mayor Plusquellic is in my head.
Walnut Creek, Oh
Posted 10:04 PM, 05/23/2009
I think it's funnny when people like Turkoglu and Barkly want to dis the Cavs. Let them. I hope the Magic is in the Cavs players heads. We need to take teams from here on very seriously. We CAN beat them if we hit our shots. In the start of the fourth quarter they started driving the basket more and got fouled. Maybe we need to do that a little more, and try to get Turkoglu and Big D in foul trouble early. Without either one of those two on the court, it sure helps our chances of winning. We might lose another game or 2 to th Magic, but as long as we win the seventh game at home... That's what counts!!!!!!!
Wilmington, NC
Posted 08:55 AM, 05/24/2009
Who in their right mind ever thought for one minute this series would be a cake walk? Orlando had proven during the regular season they create match up problems for the Cavs-although there were some mitigating circumstances namely, lack of sleep and injuries when they played in Orlando. That all said, this is and will prove to be the toughest challenge of all including what I believe whomever we would play in the finals. But Mo needs to get back his "Mo-Jo" and the rest of the Cavs bench play to the same level that won the more games than any other team in the league. My confidence though with winning this series and and ultimately a championship rests on the greatest player in the game on our side. Like was said in one other piece, the 89 team was the better of the two however they had their #23 who seemingly single handily beat us himself. Now we have our #23 and as tough a series this will be-predicting 7 to win it-I just sense this is our year!
Akron, Oh
Posted 10:18 AM, 05/24/2009
LeShot can win Game three! Four, and Five if need be.
akron, oh
Posted 11:29 AM, 05/24/2009
With matchup problems the magic are going to score the cavs are going to have to keep fighting and keep scoring.
Posted 12:36 PM, 05/24/2009
Oh come on, Turkeyglue! "We're in their heads now."
That should be the case. They should be focused on what they need to do to put you where you deserve to be.
At home a week from now. Watching the Cavs/Lakers finals from your sofa, with a beer in your hand.
Tepplin, DC
Posted 03:04 PM, 05/24/2009
RUNUTS,
Get a life, already. This is a sports article, not the editorials.
Daniel,
I don't think the Magic are in the Cavs heads at all. That would imply that the Cavs are feeling rattled by losing to the Magic in Game 1. Although they certainly had their problems in Game 2, not the least of them being the fact that they blew a double-digit lead after the half, it was essentially the same story as Game 1, but with a better ending. If anything, coming off the high of LeBron's game-winning shot, they will be just as confident going into Game 3 as they were when this series began. Hopefully, they can take at least one away in Orlando. But honestly, I think the Cavs will take them both, and then it will be Turkoglu and the rest of the Magic with the Cavs in their heads.
